West Michigan Family Stores/Grand Rapids ARC

Ali J.

I'm from a small tourist town with not a lot to do, so at age 16 I started to live the party life...

I'm from a small tourist town with not a lot to do, so at age 16 I started to live the party life. Drinking and doing drugs. I worked hard and partied even harder. After all, that is what it seemed everyone was doing.

I feel that I have made in creditable progress thus far in the program, and I am still striving to reach even more goals. Some of these goals are to mend my family relationships, stay sober, and grow into a new greater self-respect. I feel like I am finally the person that I use to be, the person that everyone knew and loved. The ARC has helped me realize that my life is worth living and that I can meet my goals.

I now can tell myself "I do not have to live that way anymore," nor do I have too. After surrendering my will and my life to my lord Jesus Christ, I am able to put my trust and faith in the Lord, and I know all things are possible. I learned this from the work therapy program to set goals, meeting them and persevering through the tough times, because my worst day sober will always be far better than my best day using.